The potential of fire reaction testing equipment
Fire reaction tests measure various phenomena which, when taken together, determine a material’s actual behaviour under fire conditions.
- Overheating and Heat Transfer
Overheating and heat transfer tests assess a material’s response to a prolonged thermal load: they analyse how the specimen reacts when subjected to radiation or controlled thermal exposure. These tests are particularly relevant for insulating materials, laminated panels and components designed to limit the transfer of energy to adjacent environments.
- Flammability and Flame Spread Test
The equipment used for flammability testing measures ignition times, combustion stability and initial reactions to flame, in order to assess ignition behaviour. The flame spread test, on the other hand, assesses surface propagation. This is a key parameter for coatings, building materials and finished products subject to classification.
- Non-combustibility and Oxygen Index
Equipment for testing non-combustibility measures the contribution of the material (intended for high performance grades or critical applications) to combustion under controlled and repeatable conditions. The Oxygen Index provides a useful comparative tool, particularly for polymers and compounds: it allows formulations and changes in composition to be compared within the context of research and development or quality control.
- Heat Flux and HRR Mid-Scale Analysis
Systems designed for heat flux analysis measure the material’s energy contribution by controlling the intensity of the radiation applied to the sample. Medium-scale HRR analysis quantifies the heat release rate, a key parameter in classification processes and in assessing the actual contribution to fire development.
- Optical Density and Fume Toxicity Index
Smoke optical density measuring equipment measures the opacity generated during combustion. The Smoke Toxicity Index enables the composition of the gases produced to be analysed, information that is required in sectors such as transport, infrastructure and specialised applications.
- Flame resistance of furniture, upholstered items and textiles
The furniture sector requires specialised methods for assessing the flame resistance of materials used in upholstered furniture and textile coverings. The test set-ups available in the Noselab ATS catalogue take into account the typical ignition sources specified in the ISO, ASTM and FAR standards.
- Resistance of electrical cables
The testing of electrical cables for fire resistance includes vertical flame spread tests and assessments of heat release and the optical density of smoke. Noselab ATS equipment meets the specific requirements for the classification of cables in the construction and industrial sectors.
Browse the products in the catalogue and find the fire reaction test machine that’s right for your testing requirements.